Piano-bridle-strap fastener



T. J. MALCOLM.

PIANO BRIDLE STRAP FASTENER. I

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1919.

1 343,5 1 6. Patented June 15, 1920.

noe'nhvo www THOMAS JEFFERSON MALCOLM, 0F OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA.

PIANO-BBIDLE-STRAP FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15,1920.

Application filed March 17, 1919. Serial No. 283.227.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS JEFFERSON MALCOLM, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates, residing at Qkmulgee, in the county of Okmulgee and State ofOklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in P1-ano-Bridle-Strap Fasteners, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In upright piano actions connecting the hammer butt or check with thebridle wire is frequently'broken and in the present types of pianoactions it is an extremely tedious and difficult operation to replacethe broken strap, owing to its inaccessibility and to the impracticaltype of fastening employed. It is therefore the object of the presentinvention to provide an extremely simple and practical fastener for theterminal of the bridle strap which is connected with a convenientlyaccessible part of the hammer check. Another object is the provision ofa fastener which affords a rigid anchorage for the terminal of thebridle strap yet permits of the quick and convenient removal of thefastening device to permit of the application or replacing of a brokenstrap.

\Vith the above and other objects in view as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention comprises the novel features ofconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts whichwill be more fully described in the following specification and setforth with particularity in the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a detailed sectional view through a piano showing aconventional type of piano action and the invention ap plied thereto,

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary front elevation of the hammer check, thestrap being in section,

Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the strap fastener, a fragmentof the strap being applied thereto,

ig. 4 represents afragmentary vertical sectional view through the strapand fastoner,

Fig. 5 represents a similar view through the hammer check form of thestrap fastener, and

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary front elethe bridle strap illustrating amodified vation of the hammer check illustrating the modified type offastener.

Referring to the drawings-in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1 whereinis illustrated a conventional type of piano action, the numeral 8indicates the usual action rail pivotally supporting one of a series ofbutts 9 carrying the shank 10 to which the hammer 11 is attached. Therecessed projection 12 at the rear of the hammer butt is engaged by theusual butt spring 13 and the check; 14 is attached to the butt 9 by thereduced shank 15 and is movable against the back check 16' during thereturn movement of the hammer 11. The, bridle strap 17 is attached atone terminal to the check 14 and at its opposite end to the bridle wire18 and in the present types of piano actions the strap is usuallypermanently attached by glue between the joints of the butt 9 and theshank 15 and is extended through an aperture 19 formed in the check 14.

The present invention provides an improved detachable fastener for theterminal of the bridle strap 17 and comprehends the utilization'of theopening 19 in the check 14 for the reception of the fastening means.

One type of the improved fastener con sists of a com ressible plug 20constructed of cork or simi ar material having the equivalentcompressible and adhesive qualities of cork and the plug is formed intwo substantially semi-cylindrical sections and is preferablytapered-from end to end to facilitate its insertion in the opening 19.The

terminal of the bridle strap 17 is engaged between the semi-cylindricalplug sections and is subsequently forcibly inserted in the opening 19,frictionally gripping the interior of the opening to efiectively preventthe displacement of the plug and gripping the terminal of the strap 17to securely anchorl the latter in position. In the modificationillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the terminal of the bridle strap 17 isquickly slipped into the opening 19 of the check 14 and is releasablyfastened in position by the spring wire fastener 21 which includes asubstantially U-shaped body having the terminals of the divergent legsoppositely-bowed as indicated at 22 to coact with the internal edge ofthe opening 19 and firmly clamp the terminal of the bridle strap 17therein. The exposed portion of the V-' ing a perforation near one endfor accomshaped body affords a convenient hand grip modating a bridlewire to permit detachfacilitating compression of the fastener and ableconnection of said member therewith, its subsequent removal from thecheck and and compressible means constructed and ar- 5 the removal andreplacement of the strap. ranged to be received in the opening in the atI claim is: countercheck for removably securing the The combination witha piano action havother end of said member therewith. ing a hammer buttprovided with a counter-- In testimony whereof, I aflix my signaturecheck formed with an opening, of a femovhereto.

10 able bridle strap comprising a member hav- THOMAS JEFFERSON MALCOLM.

